Chili-Cheese Dog Casserole

I’m just going to go ahead and apologize right now before I go any further. I’m sort of on a comfort food (i.e. high calorie, delicious, and unhealthy food) kick right now, perhaps because the weather is getting cooler, and there is absolutely nothing healthy about this. Actually, you could make it significantly healthier depending on what type of ingredients you choose to use (low-fat turkey chili, nitrate-free turkey hot dogs, reduced fat cheese, whole wheat tortillas), but I’m not going to lie and tell you I made any of those choices. This is pure, delicious, evil.

I really had no choice. The recipe, which originates from Allrecipes, has been haunting me for three years now. I first ran across it on MySpace when a friend, Kimberly V., blogged the recipe. Then Debbi blogged the recipe a few months ago, reminding me that I wanted to try it. I prefer to eat healthy & lighter meals to balance the decadent desserts I make (and eat!) on a much too regular basis, so I had been fighting it the whole time, trying to forget I ever saw it. But I finally buckled under the pressure of Debbi’s delicious pictures.

I’m not going to lie and tell you I regret it, either. Like I said, pure, evil, deliciousness. And it can’t get any easier than this!

Chili-Cheese Dog Casserole

Preheat oven to 425 F. Spray a 9 X 13-inch baking dish with oil and spread 1 can of chili over the bottom . Roll up hot dogs inside tortillas and place in baking dish, seam side down, on top of chili layer. Top with remaining can of chili and sprinkle with cheese. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Serve hot.

*Veronica’s notes: I have no idea what size my casserole dish is, but I know it’s a couple inches smaller on each side than a 9×13 and the dogs fit perfectly in it. I found my chili didn’t go very far, so I added a can of salsa-style fire roasted tomatoes & green chiles in puree to the top along with the chili. A can of Rotel, as Debbi used, would be perfect. I highly recommend shredding your own cheese to get a magnificent gooey melt. If your cheese is going to come into contact with the foil you place on top, generously spray the foil on one side with oil and place that side down over the pan, otherwise the cheese will stick to your foil and come off when you remove it.

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About Veronica

I have a kitchen addiction and love to collect & share recipes. My passion is baking but I love to cook as well. The only thing I don't like to do in the kitchen is wash dishes, but my husband generally does them for me in exchange for his dinner.

This looks FANTABULOUS! I am definitely making this. I’m with you, fall just makes me crave comfort foods. It also makes me want to have people over and kick back! This recipe looks like it accomplishes all of the above … from easy and simple, to delicious!

My older daughter just started her first real job in a big corporation and they have “goody days” about once a month. She’s not a sweet eater like I am so she always wants me to come up with an idea for something for her to make that isn’t sweet. I think she will LOVE this recipe! Definitely a good potluck recipe!

Always thinking ahead here, this would be a great recipe to mix up with some leftover chili and place in the freezer for one of those days when you need something fast!

Haha! I can’t believe this recipe haunted you for 3 years. That’s hilarious. And there’s a place for unhealthy comfort food–at least that’s what I tell myself after making a big batch of Queso last night with my friend Velveeta. =)

It is a very cozy warm family dinner for sure! Oooh! So awesome. I’ve never would have thought of it. You know, I think it would also be great for Thanksgiving. I just had that wonderful feeling of fall after seeing this! Thanks for sharing, Veronica!

I used to make something similar to this for my daughter. I use manicotti noodles instead of tortillas. Wrap a hotdog in a slice of American cheese, slide cheese-wrapped hotdog into already-boiled manicotti noodle, cover with chili and shredded cheese, bake ’til cheese is melted. My mom and I came up with it for my Girl Scout cooking badge back in the early 80’s. We call it Texas Manicotti :)

Made this last night, along with a salad and homemade fresh strawberry pie. My husband loved it. I love chili cheese dogs but they can be messy – this solved that problem. I added some fresh chopped onion on top when I served it. Had a Triple Cheddar blend in the freezer so I used that and it was awesome. A 38 oz. can of chili was the perfect amount, using an 11×7 pan. I also heated it slightly to make it easier to pour out. Bought a package 16 small tortillas, so I will be making this again!

We tried this, it is now a family fave! We treat it like a chili dog on serving too. Any toppings ya like; diced onion, spivey brown mustard, kraut, green chilies, whatever ya like. There’s never any leftovers. In fact I’m making it again tonight by family’s persistent request. My son begged me to top it with velveeta again. I have gotten 2% milk velveeta, lighter version tortillas, reduced fat hotdogs, reduced fat chili too so I feel better about using it. ;)

Hi Veronica. I just found your blog today while I was searching for this recipe. I also love sharing and collecting recipes, I have notebooks full of them. I am new at baking but I already love it but I don’t like washing dishes either LOL.